We’ve all heard of smart phones and smart watches, but what exactly is a smart home. In short, a smart home is a house where everything from appliances to lights to water can be controlled from anywhere that you have an internet connection or a smartphone. It might sound crazy, but the way that smart homes work is actually quite simple and can save you lots of time and money. In this article, we’re going to look at what a smart home is and why it might be worth your while to invest in one.
How Does a Smart Home Work?
Smart homes truly are a modern marvel that many people never thought would become a reality. However, thanks to wifi, bluetooth, and self-learning technology, smart homes have become the norm in certain parts of the world. In order for a smart home to work, you need an internet connection and devices that are compatible with smart technology.
Essentially, you purchase appliances, lights, doorbells, and any other type of electronic device that can be connected to your wifi. Then, everything on your smart network gets connected to a central point or console such as a phone or laptop, which then acts as the remote control for everything on the network. At the push of a button, you can then turn your lights off, start the stove, or do any other number of things.
What are Some Common Smart Home Devices?
When you get home after a long day, your mind and body crave a warm bed. Your sheets can be one of the best ways to give yourself that much-needed warmth. How?? Everyone loves a cozy bed with with extra blankets at night time during winter months when temperatures. Sometimes, you can substitute the additionally heat from your furnace for a heavier sheet and/or blanket. Head to the store to trade out the light sheets (used in the summer) with heavier cotton sheets. This hack is cheap but can result in saving you hundreds of dollars.
Is a Smart Home Right for Me?
Whether or not a smart home is right for you depends on what your goals are in life. If you have a little extra money to spend and want to simplify your life and reduce your carbon footprint, a smart home is a great option for you. The great thing about smart homes is that there’s no rule about how many smart devices you can have. You can start by simply installing a smart thermostat or doorbell and go from there. However, it’s important that you have at least a rudimentary grasp on technology, or a smart home will be your nightmare.
Energenie Supports Smart Homes
EnerGenie is your personal electricity shopping assistant. While smart homes may consume additional electricity, Energenie will ensure you are on the correct plan. You’ll also never have to worry about falling onto a high variable electricity rate because we continuously monitor your account and the market to sign you up for another great rate when your contract is coming up for renewal.
Signing up with EnerGenie can save you hundreds of dollars per year on your electricity bill. Here’s what we do:
- We analyze your electricity usage
- We enroll you with a cheap electricity rate
- We manage your electricity plan
- We find your next plan automagically
Benefits of a Smart Home
- Increased convenience for home management
- A safer and more secure home
- Increased energy efficiency and a smaller carbon footprint
- Potentially huge cost savings down the road due to efficient devices
Disadvantages of a Smart Home
- The potential risk hackers and network issues
- Many smart devices are quite expensive upfront
- You must be willing to accept technology and learn it